Senior Associate and Artificial Intelligence Jobs 2026 at RSM US LLP
RSM US LLP is hiring Senior Associates for their Advanced Analytics and AI Consulting practice in Chicago, Illinois. The position offers annual salaries between $88,900 and $168,300, placing you at the forefront of business transformation through artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.
This role combines technical expertise with client consulting, making it ideal for data professionals who want to move beyond pure coding into strategic business problem-solving. RSM operates as one of America’s leading audit, tax, and consulting firms, meaning your AI work directly impacts how major companies operate and compete.
What This AI Consulting Role Involves
As a Senior Associate, you’ll join multidisciplinary teams delivering complete AI and analytics solutions from initial data integration through final deployment. The work spans machine learning model development, data visualization, and implementing practical AI applications that solve real business challenges.
You’ll spend significant time working directly with clients, not just sitting behind a computer screen. This client-facing aspect distinguishes consulting roles from typical data science positions where you might work isolated from business stakeholders. You’ll translate technical concepts into business language and vice versa, bridging the gap between what’s technically possible and what clients actually need.
Daily Responsibilities Breakdown
Your typical work involves designing and implementing machine learning models using Python, R, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure AI Services. You’ll contribute to Generative AI projects and AI Agent development, handling tasks like prompt design, preparing training data, and evaluating model performance.
Exploratory data analysis forms another core responsibility where you examine datasets, identify patterns, and build features that improve model accuracy. You’ll also develop data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake, and Synapse to ensure smooth data flow from source systems to analytical models.
An important part of the role involves translating business requirements into technical specifications. Clients explain their problems in business terms, and you determine how data and AI can solve those problems, then build solutions that deliver measurable results.
Understanding RSM’s AI Practice
RSM’s Advanced Analytics and AI Consulting practice helps companies leverage their data assets strategically. Unlike product companies building one application repeatedly, consulting exposes you to diverse industries, varied data challenges, and different AI use cases across multiple clients simultaneously.
Position Details
RSM is filling Senior Associate positions within their Chicago office. While the exact number of vacancies isn’t specified, consulting firms typically hire multiple candidates when posting roles publicly, especially for growing practices like AI consulting.
Who Should Apply
RSM seeks candidates with specific educational backgrounds, professional experience, and technical skills suited for advanced AI consulting work.
Educational Background
You need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related quantitative fields. The degree demonstrates foundational knowledge in analytical thinking, statistical methods, and technical problem-solving essential for AI work.
Professional Experience Required
At least three years of professional experience in data analytics, machine learning, or business intelligence solution development is mandatory. This experience should involve actual implementation work, not just academic projects. RSM wants people who’ve built models in production environments, dealt with messy real-world data, and delivered solutions that stakeholders actually use.
Strong proficiency in Python and R for data manipulation, modeling, and analysis is non-negotiable. You should write clean code, understand common data science libraries, and know how to optimize model performance.
Preferred Qualifications
While not mandatory, certain qualifications significantly strengthen your application. Experience with Azure Machine Learning, Azure AI Foundry, or Azure OpenAI Service shows you understand Microsoft’s AI ecosystem, which RSM heavily utilizes.
Copilot Studio experience, exposure to large language models, prompt engineering, or retrieval-augmented generation patterns indicate you’re current with generative AI developments. Familiarity with MLOps, model evaluation, model monitoring, data modeling, and modern data architectures demonstrates production-ready skills beyond basic modeling.
Previous consulting experience or client-facing project work proves you can handle the interpersonal and communication demands of consulting, not just the technical aspects.
Application Process
RSM uses an online application system where you’ll submit your credentials and work history. Here’s how to approach it effectively.
Visit the official RSM job posting and review the complete position description carefully.
Prepare your resume highlighting relevant AI and machine learning projects you’ve completed. Include specific technologies used, business problems solved, and measurable outcomes achieved. Consulting firms care deeply about business impact, not just technical accomplishment.
Create a profile on RSM’s recruitment platform, providing accurate contact information and professional details.
Complete the application form, ensuring all required fields contain thorough information about your educational background and work experience.
Upload your resume and any additional documents requested. Some candidates include portfolios showcasing previous AI projects, though this isn’t always required.
Submit your application and monitor your email for responses from RSM’s recruitment team regarding next steps.
Things You Should Know
The salary range of $88,900 to $168,300 reflects significant variation based on experience level, specific skills, and negotiation. Senior Associates with stronger Azure expertise and consulting backgrounds typically command higher compensation.
Consulting involves client travel, though the extent varies by project. Some weeks you’ll work from RSM’s Chicago office, other periods might require visiting client sites in different cities. The schedule can be demanding during project deadlines.
This role offers substantial learning opportunities. You’ll gain exposure to enterprise-scale AI implementations, work with cutting-edge technologies, and see how different industries apply AI solutions. The variety prevents boredom but requires adaptability.
Application Timeline
The job posting doesn’t specify an application deadline, suggesting RSM reviews candidates on a rolling basis until the position fills. However, applying early improves your chances since qualified candidates get interviewed first and positions may close once sufficient applicants are identified.
Additional Career Options
While exploring AI consulting roles, consider other professional opportunities like Legal Assistant positions for diverse career paths across different sectors.
Common Questions About This Role
Do I need consulting experience to apply?
Consulting experience is listed as preferred, not required. If you have strong technical skills with three-plus years building AI solutions but haven’t worked in consulting, you can still apply. Emphasize any client-facing work, cross-functional team experience, or situations where you translated technical work into business outcomes. Consulting firms value learning potential and communication skills alongside technical ability, so demonstrate your capacity to work with non-technical stakeholders even if not in formal consulting contexts.
How important is Azure experience specifically?
Azure experience helps significantly since RSM’s practice focuses heavily on Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem. However, if you’re proficient with AWS or Google Cloud and understand cloud-based AI services generally, you can learn Azure specifics on the job. Demonstrate strong fundamentals in cloud computing, machine learning pipelines, and AI service integration regardless of specific platform. Many companies transition between clouds, so transferable skills matter more than memorizing one vendor’s service names.
What makes this different from typical data science jobs?
Traditional data science roles often involve working for one company on their specific data problems repeatedly. Consulting exposes you to multiple clients across various industries, each with unique challenges and data environments. You’ll build broader skills faster but face more ambiguity since every project starts fresh with new stakeholders, different data quality, and varied technical constraints. The client-facing aspect also means presenting findings, managing expectations, and sometimes dealing with difficult conversations when technical realities don’t match client hopes.
Final Thoughts
RSM’s Senior Associate position offers exciting opportunities for experienced data professionals ready to apply AI skills in client consulting contexts. The salary range of $88,900 to $168,300 reflects competitive compensation for Chicago’s market, especially considering growth potential within a major consulting firm.
The requirements of a relevant degree plus three years of hands-on machine learning experience with Python or R proficiency are achievable for many mid-career data scientists. The preferred qualifications around Azure services and generative AI indicate where the practice is heading, but shouldn’t discourage qualified candidates who can learn these technologies.
If you combine technical AI expertise with curiosity about business problems and can communicate effectively with non-technical audiences, this role deserves serious consideration. The consulting environment accelerates professional growth through diverse project exposure while building skills that remain valuable throughout your career in data and artificial intelligence.
